Club Races
Polkemmit in a Gentle Mood
Polkemmit Rd, Sunday 5th October 2008

	Peter Parnaby

Mild conditions and a gentle breeze greeted Grampians Vets cyclists for the Polkemmit Road 54km handicap, held last Sunday near Horsham.

Normally a windy course, the gentle conditions were a welcome change.

Riding off 18 minutes, Meg Parnaby and Roger Williams worked well together until about 10km to go, when 4 minute riders Tom Eldridge, Stuart King, Peter Parnaby and Steve Monks overtook them.

They picked up Meg Parnaby as they went past, but shortly afterwards lost the hard working but out of form Eldridge, who was struggling on the hills.

Meanwhile the scratch riders Leon Gibson, Daryl Elliott, Gerard O’Brien, Alan Barnett, Dean Hayward and Chris Scott were gaining ground, and with 6kms to go were about 500m behind.

However the 4 minute riders lifted their pace over the closing stages to hold off the scratch riders, with Stuart King leading out the charge to the line, providing the perfect launch for Peter Parnaby to come over the top with 100m to go and claim the win (thanks Stuart!!).

King finish second with Monks third.

The scratch riders were only 200m behind, with the fastest race time of 1 hour 25 minutes going to Chris Scott.